When it comes to Résumés, there is a lot of conflicting information out there, as an ex-Recruiter, turned Career Coach I wanted to share my 2 cents worth of the most common mistakes I see on résumés.
[Full disclosure: mistake no. 4 & no 5 can be a little controversial…]
- Mistake #1 – Discriminating Information
Currently, we are in 2019 and there is absolutely no need to include any kind of information about you that can be discriminatory. It’s irrelevant, so leave it off.
This includes:
- Photos / Headshots (more suitable for social networking platforms such as LinkedIn)
- Gender
- Marital Status
- Sexual orientation
- Age / Date of Birth
- Number of Kids (or names and ages of kids)
- Address – yes you can include your address, but this is not essential. If you live quite a distance from the location of the vacancy, I recommend removing your home address. Please ensure to keep your phone number and email address on there.
- Mistake #2 – Unprofessional email address or hidden contact details
Nothing frustrates a Recruiter more than when they cannot find your PHONE NUMBER or email address to contact you.
Make sure this is at the TOP of your résumé and is easy to find. I also like to add your phone number into the footer, with the page number.
You must have a professional email address, such as your name@gmail.com it is even a good idea to create a new email account just for job applications. That way nothing will get missed amongst your personal emails. You do not want to be the laughing stock in an office with an email address like chickybabe69@hotmail.com it is not a professional image or great first impression.
- Mistake #3 – Not including dates or being vague
FAST FACT: Recruiters will scan-read your résumé and make an instant decision on your résumé in 6-10 seconds! Yup that’s a fact. Scary huh?
As they are scan-reading this, a pet hate for Recruiters is when they cannot clearly identify your career history. It needs to be in chronological order (most recent job first) with the year AND month clearly marked alongside your Job Title and Company Name.
If you think you can omit the months to hide any gaps you have had in your career – recruiters are aware of this and they will automatically assume YOU ARE HIDING SOMETHING.
Résumés need to be precise and factual. Being vague causes concern. The reader is looking for holes in your application. They pretty much think the worst with every person – your job is to show them otherwise.
- Mistake #4 – Using a fancy, graphically designed or coloured template
Don’t be fooled. If you think you will stand out in the masses of applications with a beautiful graphically designed, colourful résumé, unfortunately this is not so. This is not what makes a résumé stand out!⠀
There are a number of things that DO make your résumé stand out. I could talk all day about what they are. In fact, I do talk about this very topic in module 2 of my new online course (that is soon to be released).
If you want all the secrets and know-how on creating your own Résumé (and cover letter) – join the waitlist here to be the first hear and receive EARLY BIRD PRICES.
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- Mistake #5 – Squishing the content into 2 pages!
Squishing the content into 2 pages!
Now, this one can a controversial topic as many believe your résumé must be 2 pages. I am going to put my neck on the line here and say disagree with other experts.
If your résumé is actually 2 pages, that can be a great thing. I can’t comment if this is right or wrong specifically for you. Your résumé is your career on paper, there is no cookie cutter approach here.⠀
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I have seen many résumés in my time (like over 10,000) and I have helped over 400 people with their résumés since starting my business 3yr’s ago. ⠀
FAST FACT: It is rare that a résumé of a professional with at least 10yr’s work history is only 2 pages long. ⠀
If you are a recent graduate, have not held many jobs, or are at the other end (Board level) then yes a 2 page résumé is perfect. ⠀
However, most commonly, a professional or mid-level managers Résumé will be around 3-4 pages.⠀
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Don’t sacrifice quality content for the sake of going over 2 pages.⠀
There you have it, the top 5 common mistakes I see on résumés. If you have read this far, I take it you are interested in learning how to create and write your own résumé? It is a lifetime skill after all.
Good news is, I am currently creating an online program that delivers exactly that (and more). If youwould love to have the exact roadmap of HOW to Create Your Own Résumé (and cover letter), join the waitlist here, where you will be first to know when it drops and receive limited EARLY BIRD PRICES.
We all know there are hundreds of free CV Templates flying around…. but do they really step you through what to write, how to sell yourself and how to tailor your application for the job you are applying for?
And have those templates been tested….?
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I am so excited to finally be able to give you ALL the tools and trade secrets to creating your own Résumé (and Cover Letter) that actually get notice, so you can get hired for the job you WANT.
I am an ex-Recruiter, turned Career Coach with over 10 years’ experience in agency and internal recruitment for large corporates. My mission is to equip professionals with confidence and clarity to find fulfilment in their career.
